On July 14, 2014, the Employment Justice Center successfully secured passage of the Wage Theft Prevention Amendment Act of 2014, which amended the DC Wage Payment and Collect Act (“DCWPCA”) and the Minimum Wage Revision Act (“DCMWRA”). Among other things, the amendments: provide for recovery of attorney’s fees at Adjusted Laffey Matrix rates; create liability by a general contractor for a subcontractor’s unpaid wages; broaden the definition of “employee” under the DCWPCA; redefine the term “similarly situated” for collective action purposes; strengthen administrative procedures, enforcement mechanisms and remedies; and contain new rules for temporary staffing agencies.

MWELA is the local affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA). NELA and its 68 state and local affiliates have more than 3,000 members. We strongly encourage our members to join NELA. For more information, please contact Ms. Colleen Goodin, Membership Director, NELA, (415) 296-7629 (cgoodin@nelahq.org) or go to www.nela.org for an application. MWELA members receive a discount on NELA dues.